Face mask



D. l. REBIKO'FF E'II'AL 2,876,766

FACE MASK March 10, 1959 Filed Aug. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent FACE MASK Dimitri Issaiewitch Rebikoif, Cannes, and YvesPaul Gaston le Prieur, Nice, France, assignors to Cinefot InternationalCorp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 17,1956, Serial No. 604,667 Claims priority, application France September3, 1954 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-141) The present invention relates generallyto an improved face mask and more particularly it relates to an improvedface mask of the type employed in an underwater environment.

Personal underwater activities and operations without the use of airpump fed diving suits or helmets have in recent years become highlypopular and widespread. These activities include not only underwatersports, such as spear fishing and the like, and exploration and naturestudy, but operations of a more immediate economic nature, such assalvage operations, ship repairs, underwater inspection, etc. In orderto facilitate underwater activity goggles or a face mask is employed soas to provide comfortable underwater vision. The conventional underwaterface mask either covers the entire face or leaves the mouth freecovering the eyes and nose and is provided with a flexible flange toeffect a water tight seal with the head and thereby prevent exposure ofthe eyes to water. At least that part of the mask confronting the eyesis formed of a transparent material.

The conventional underwater face mask possesses numerous drawbacks anddisadvantages. Principal among these is the limited angle of visionallowed the wearer. Another drawback is the inaccessibility of the noseof the wearer thereby preventing the closure of the nostrils attendantto clearance of the Eustachian tubes, a practice widely used by diversupon descent. A further disadvantage of the conventional face mask isthe large air cavity between the face and the mask which results in amarked suction cup effect, as well as permitting the presence of largervolumes of carbon dioxide.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide animproved face mask.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved facemask of the underwater type.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedunderwater face mask providing improved VlSlOIl.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide animproved underwater face mask which does not restrict the normal ocularangle of vision.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedunderwater face mask which permits manipulation of the nose of thewearer without removal of the mask.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedunderwater face mask having a reduced suction cup effect.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedunderwater face mask which does not significantly affect the normalbuoyancy.

' Still a further object of the present invention is to pro- "ice videan improved underwater face mask which substantially inhibits theaccumulation of carbon dioxide with the mask.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aperspective view of an underwater face mask embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of another embodimentof the present invention illustrated on a wearer, shown partially brokenaway for convenience of illustration;

Figure 4 is a rear view thereof;

Figure 5' is a vertical transverse sectional view of still anotherembodiment of the present invention shown par-;

tially broken away for convenience of illustration; and

Figure 6 is a similar front elevational view of stillhaving a front faceand rear face, rearwardly directed flex ible flanges carried by saidframe member and adapted to effect a water tight seal between said facemask and the head of the wearer thereof, and means defining a forwardlydirected well located on said face plate, said well being of a size andconfiguration sufficient to accommodate the nose of said wearer, atleast that portion of said face mask located adjacent to the upperportion of said well being formed of a transparent material.

The advantages of this type of face mask are manifold. A principalfeature is that there is no impediment to the normal ocular angle ofvision which is greatly restricted in the conventional underwater facemask. Another feature is the reduction in the free cavity between themask and the face of the wearer thereby minimizing the suction cupeffect, the accumulation of carbon dioxide, and the adverse modificationof buoyancy. Furthermore, by forming the nose well of a flexiblematerial the nose may be manipulated thereby permitting a more,

comfortable underwater descent. It should be noted that the mask maycover the entire face or merely a portion thereof terminating at a pointbetween the lower part of the nose and the upper lip.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2thereof which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present inventionas applied to an underwater face mask covering only the upper portion ofthe face terminating at a point immediately. below the nose, the numeral10 generally designates the improved face mask which includes a framemember 11 of substantially elliptical configuration and forwardly bowedalong a vertical cylindrical plane. Projecting rearwardly of the framememberll are preferably tapered flexible flanges 12, the inner edge 13of which approximates the corresponding contour of the wearers face andis adapted to effect a liquid tight seal with the surface of the face.The frame 11 and the flanges 12 are integrally formed of a natural orsynthetic rubber or any other suitable elastomeric material.

A face plate 14 of forwardly protruding convexo-con-' cavo configurationhas its edge nesting in a corresponding groove formed in the inner wallof the frame member 11' gara es ally-formed in the lower portion ofthe-face mask and approximates the shape of the nose. The well 16 issurrounded by walls 17 which are formed integral with the wall of theface plate 14. The face plate 14 is preferably made of a relativelystiff transparent plastic material, such as for example methacrylate,polystyrene or the like.

A pair of cylindrical bosses 19 are located at the sides of the flanges12 and carry wire loops 20. An adjustable strap,2;1 isaprovided atoppositeends thereof-with length adjusting buckles 22, which formtheends of; the. strap 21 into loops 23 which engage the wire loops 20.

In use, the mask is placed on the face. ofgthewearer, the .well 16registering with the nose so that the face plate. ie in close proximityto the face and particularly to the eyes. The flange 12 hermeticallyengages the surface. of the face and is maintained in close contacttherewith by suitable adjustment of the strap 21 by, meansof'the buckles22. It is apparent from the above that the volume between the face ofthe, wearer and the mask is kept. at a minimum and that the face plate.is close to the. eyesthereby in no way restricting the ocular angle.

the face along the sides, top and below the. chin thereof l In order. to

toeffect a liquid tight seal with the face. releasably maintain the maskon the head. there are provided a pair of side straps 29 and a top strap30 which project rearwardly from the top of the flange 28 and the uppersides thereof and are interconnected by the T-shaped member 32 and bymeans of adjusting buckles 33, as best seen in Figure 4 of the drawing,to permit suitable adjustment.

Retained by the frame member 27 is an outwardly bowed face plate 34whose peripheral edge registers with the corresponding groove36 formedon the inner face of the frame member 27 and is hermetically sealedtherein. Formed in the face plate 34 is a nose shaped well 27approximately centrally disposed on the face plate 34. An opening 38 isformed in the face plate 34 directly below the nose well 37 and hasregistering therewith a bushing 39 through which passes a tube 45),which in turn is connected to a source of air under suitable pressure.

breathing tube or snorkle 41 is disposed directly rear ward ly of theupper portion of the frame member 27 and communicates with the forwardpart ofthe interior of the mask 26. The breathing tube 41 may be, of;anyconventional construction or may besitnilar to that described in thecopending patent application of Dimitri Issaiewitch Rebikoff and YvesPaul Gaston lePrieurfiled- August 30, 1955 and bearing Serial No.531,386.

In use, the improved mask 26 is applied to the. head in the mannerillustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. It will be noted that the faceplate 34 is in close proximity to the eyes to thereby afford a Wideangle of vision and that the space within the mask is at a minimum.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure of the drawings issimilar to thatlast described differing therefrom only in thefconstruction of the faeeplate 42 and the nose well. The generalconfiguration of 'the-face plate 42 is similar to the faceplate. 34previously de Projecting rearwardly from the frame 27 and which isformed of aflexible material such as natural or synthetic rubber.or,other.suitableelastomer. The. edges.

of the receptacle 44 are of enlarged cross section as at 46 and have anoutwardly directed peripheral groove formed therein which engages theedges of the opening 43 in liquid tight relationship. The provision ofthe flexible nose receptacle permits the manipulation of the nosewithout removal of the mask for the purposes hereinbefore set forth. Inall other respects, the mask illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing issimilar to that illustrated in Figures 3 and 4- of the drawings. InFigure 6 of the drawing there is illustrated a further embodiment of thepresent invention which is similar in construction to that illustratedin Figure 5 of the draw ing differing therefrom in that the air supplyis fed into the interiorof the mask. by way ofa pressure regulatingvalve 50 which is mounted on the side of the mask and has an outlet portcommunicating with the interior'of the mask. The valve 50. is of,conventional and well known construction and is connected by way of apipe 51 to a source of air under pressure. On the mouth piece of themask illustrated in Figure 6 is mounted a water discharge pump 52 whichcommunicates with the lower portion of the interior of the mask and isof the type described in the abovefidentified copending patentapplication. i i ii i It should be noted that the frame member andflange of each of the face masks above described are preferably formedof natural or synthetic rubber or other suitable. flexible elastomericmaterial, whereas the face plateis formed of a relatively stifftransparent material such as an organic plastic, for example methylmethacrylate.

The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of thecopending, application of Dimitri Issaiewitch;

Rebikoff and Yves Pauli Gaston le Prieur, Serial No. 531,386 filed,August 30, 1955, now Patent No. 2,818,067.

While there have been described and illustrated several embodiments ofthe present invention it is apparent that numerous, alterations andomissions may be made with out departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved underwater face mask comprising a frame member, a faceplate, formed of a relatively stiff transparent material, carried bysaid frame member and hermetically sealed thereto, said face, platehaving a front, faceand rear face, rearwardly directed flexible flangescarried byjsaid frame member and adapted to effect'fa water tight sealbetween said face mask and the head of the wearer thereof, said faceplate, having a triangular. opening formed therein, and means defining aforwardly. directed well located onsaid face plate, said means i115.eluding a nose shaped receptacle having, outwardly directed flangesengaging the edges of said triangular opening in liquid; tightrelationship thereto, said well being of a size and configuration toaccommodate the nose of said wearer in close proximity to therear face.of said well, at least that portion of said face. mask located adjacentto theupper portion of said well and confronting the wearers eyes beingformed of a transparent material, said face plate being located relativesaid flanges to position said portion confronting said wearer-ls eyesclosely proximate said wearers. eyes,

2. An improved underwater face mask comprising a frame member, a faceplate carried by said frame member and hermetically sealed thereto, saidface plate having a frontface and rear face, rearwardly directed flexible flanges carried by said frame member and adapted to effect awatertight seal between said face mask and the. head of the, wearerthereof, said faceplate being ragareaor a relatively st'iff tr anspar ent materialandhav;

ing atriangular openingformed therein, andmeans de; fining a forwardly.directed well located onsaid faceplate, said means including anose-shaped receptacle having out wardly directed flanges engaging theedges of said triangular opening in liquid type. relationship thereto,said receptacle being formed of an elastomeric material, said well beingof a size and configuration to accommodate the nose of said wearer inclose proximity to the rear face of said well, at least that portion ofsaid face mask located adjacent to the upper portion of said well andconfronting the wearers eyes being formed of a transparent material,said face plate being located relative said flanges to position saidportion confronting said wearers eyes closely proximate said wearerseyes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS PalijDec. 27, 1921 Wilen Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS France June 6, 1936Switzerland Aug. 17, 1942

